U.S. patent number 5,757,268 [Application Number 08/722,860] was granted by the patent office on 1998-05-26 for prioritization of vehicle display features.
This patent grant is currently assigned to United Technologies Automotive, Inc.. Invention is credited to Silviu Palalau, William Rogers, Daniel Toffolo.
United States Patent |
5,757,268 |
Toffolo , et al. |
May 26, 1998 |
Prioritization of vehicle display features
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling information to be
displayed on a vehicle reconfigurable display includes the steps of
prioritizing information. The control identifies each of the items
which are desirably displayed and determines the space necessary to
display all of those items. If the necessary space exceeds
available space, then the control goes through a routine wherein it
attempts to minimize the size of the display items, and prioritize
the display items. Certain items must always be displayed, whereas
other items need only be optionally displayed. The control may
identify certain optional items as not to be displayed under
certain circumstances. Further, the control may select between
available sizes for other items to provide additional space.
Inventors: |
Toffolo; Daniel (Dearborn,
MI), Rogers; William (Soffield, CT), Palalau; Silviu
(Birmingham, MI) |
Assignee: |
United Technologies Automotive,
Inc. (Dearborn, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
24903712 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/722,860 |
Filed: |
September 26, 1996 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/461; 340/459;
340/525; 345/660 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K
35/00 (20130101); G01C 21/3626 (20130101); B60K
2370/785 (20190501); B60K 2370/27 (20190501) |
Current International
Class: |
B60K
35/00 (20060101); B60Q 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/461,459,525,905
;345/115,116,129,130,127,131 ;395/344 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hofsass; Jeffery
Assistant Examiner: Lieu; Julie B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Howard & Howard
Claims
We claim:
1. A method of displaying information in a vehicle, comprising the
steps of:
1) identifying a group of items to be displayed and providing an
operator with the ability to set preferences in the appearance of
at least one of said items to be displayed;
2) setting a priority for each of said items;
3) receiving a signal directing that said group of items be
modified;
4) determining a desired display based upon said signal;
5) comparing the required area for said desired display to the
available display area; and
6) reconfiguring said desired display based upon the prioritization
if said desired display area is greater than said available display
area including over-riding said operator preferences if said
preferentially selected item is larger than other optional displays
for the same information.
2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein certain display items
are prioritized to always be displayed.
3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein certain information may
be moved to a second screen if sufficient space is not
available.
4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the adjustment of step
6) includes reviewing said items to be displayed and selecting
alternative smaller display options for the same item to reduce the
required area for said desired display, and repeating this
reduction until the comparison of step 5) results in the area for
said desired display not exceeding said available display area, or
until all items to be displayed have already been moved to a
smallest available size.
5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein an additional system is
added to the vehicle and communicates with a control for display,
said additional system providing signals to said control to add
display items from said additional system to said group of
items.
6. An instrument panel display system for a vehicle,
comprising:
a reconfigurable display panel that displays a plurality of images,
wherein some of said images are necessary instrument images
indicative of necessary vehicle information that are always
displayed on said display panel and others of said images are
user-selected optional images indicative of operational status of
vehicle accessories and wherein at least one of said optional
images has a user-preferred configuration and size and at least one
other possible configuration and size that is different than said
user-preferred configuration and size;
at least one operator input switch that allows an operator of the
system within the vehicle to select one or more of said optional
images to be displayed with said necessary instrument images on
said panel; and
a controller that controls the display on said display panel by
always causing said necessary instrument images to be displayed and
prioritizing a display of selected ones of said optional images
selected by the system operator, said control prioritizing said
display by comparing a size of the user preferred configuration and
size of each selected optional image to an available space on said
display panel and determining whether all selected optional images
will fit within said available space and automatically changing the
size or configuration of at least one of said selected optional
images from said user-preferred size or configuration such that all
selected optional images will fit within said available space, said
control causing said images to be displayed on said display panel
when said images will fit within said available space.
7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an antenna associated
with the vehicle that provides information to said control and
wherein said control causes incoming images to be displayed on said
display panel that are indicative of said information received by
said antenna and wherein said incoming images are optional
images.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein said display includes a main
panel positioned approximately forwardly of a driver of the vehicle
and a second panel to be spaced from the driver and toward a
passenger seat in the vehicle and wherein said necessary images are
always displayed on said main panel.
9. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of said images
indicates information that is selectably adjustable by the operator
and wherein the control causes said at least one image to display
an adjustment to said information as said information is adjusted
by the operator.
10. The system of claim 6, wherein said control causes images to be
displayed on said display in a pattern and wherein said pattern
includes groupings of images that are indicative of information
that is related.
11. A method of displaying images indicative of information on a
display screen within a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
(A) assigning a priority level to each of a plurality of images to
be displayed, said priority levels including a first level for
necessary images that are always displayed and various secondary
levels that are of lower priority than said first level for
optional images;
(B) determining which of said images are to be included in a
desired display;
(C) comparing a space required by said desired display with an
available display space;
(D) defining a condition wherein the space required by the desired
display can be accommodated within the available display space;
(E) changing the desired display by performing one or more of the
following substeps until the condition of step (D) exists
1) rearranging the images to be included in the desired display by
changing a placement of each image,
2) changing the configuration of some of the images to be included
in the desired display beginning with images having the lowest
priority levels,
3) reducing the space required by some of the images to be included
in the desired display beginning with images having the lowest
priority levels, and
4) if the condition of step (D) does not exist after performing
substeps 1, 2 and 3, changing the size or configuration of at least
one of the images from a user-preferred size or configuration;
and
(F) displaying the desired display once the condition from step (D)
exists.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein substep 4 of step (E) further
includes changing the content of the desired display by deleting at
least one of the images beginning with the remaining image having
the lowest priority.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a reconfigurable information display for
a vehicle wherein information items to be displayed are assigned
priority, and displayed based upon the priority and available
space.
Vehicles typically utilize fixed instrument panel displays. In a
fixed instrument panel display, the items to be displayed to the
operator such as speed, fuel, etc., are provided on gauges at fixed
locations on the instrument panel. Thus, the operator is able to
look at a particular location on the instrument panel and receive
the necessary information.
More and more information is being displayed to an operator of a
modern vehicle. As an example, trip direction systems are being
incorporated into vehicles, in which a reconfigurable display panel
provides an operator with directions to a particular location.
These systems operate in conjunction with satellite-based location
identification systems. It has been proposed recently to utilize
reconfigurable displays for the entire instrument panel. As one
example, co-pending patent application Ser. No. 08/650,038
discloses such a system.
Challenges are presented when utilizing a reconfigurable display
panel for vehicle information display. One particular challenge is
determining which information is to be displayed, and the location
for the displayed information. The operator must always be provided
with certain high priority information, such as vehicle speed. In
addition, high priority information is desirably provided at a
relatively fixed location. That is, if the operator is accustomed
to looking to the left hand side of the display to view the
information, it would be most desirable that at least the high
priority information is displayed in that location.
Problems are presented by the increasing amount of information that
is to be displayed. Further, changes in the information to be
displayed, such as displaying an operating parameter an operator is
adjusting, or displaying warning lights that may come on
occasionally, also present problems to the accommodation of all of
the information that must be displayed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The disclosed invention includes a method and apparatus for
prioritizing information that is to be displayed on a
reconfigurable display panel. Once the information has been
prioritized, a control evaluates available display area, and
determines which information is to be displayed, and which
information will not be displayed. High priority, or necessary
information, is displayed, while optional information may or may
not be displayed. Further, the operator is provided with the
ability to select preferences on the appearance of the display. If
the operator has selected a preference to a larger display, that
preference may be overridden if additional space is necessary.
In one embodiment of this invention, a display control receives
signals from operator switches, vehicle sensors, and may also
receive signals from a transmitter for traffic information. Such
transmitters are a known part of available trip direction systems.
Known traffic information transmitters may send signals to the
vehicle trip direction system such as an indication of the location
of a traffic jam, or areas that should be avoided. In the event
that the vehicle control receives such a signal, and the operator
is utilizing the map function, the system may need to override the
previous calculated route and display a new route. Other inputs may
also be utilized in certain application, and the system would still
be within the scope of this application.
In preferred embodiments of this invention, each item to be
displayed is assigned a priority value in a table accessible to the
control. At least some display items preferably allow an operator
display preference. As one example, the operator may select a dial
display for the speed, rather than a numeric display. Each item to
be displayed is also assigned a minimum display size, although
other optional sizes may be available. As an example, the speed
display may be provided at two different sizes with a larger size
displayed when space is available and the smaller size displayed if
space is not available.
Each display item is also preferably grouped with other similar
items. It may be desirable to keep all operational information at a
particular area of the display. Also information such as
entertainment system, (e.g., radio) may preferably be maintained at
a particular area. Similarly, information with regard to the
climate control may also be grouped together.
The information groups may be provided with a desired location in
some cases. In particular, it may be desirable to maintain the
operational information at a particular location on the display
panel, as an example, on the left side of the display panel. Less
critical information groups may not be provided with a desired
location. In one embodiment there is a second display spaced from
the main display and between the passenger and driver seats of the
vehicle. The second display may display information which is
preferably made easily accessible to the passenger. As an example,
the operator may select a preference to have trip direction
information displayed on this second screen such that the passenger
may assist the driver in reaching a desired destination.
Alternatively, the second display may be used for items deemed to
be of lesser importance than those displayed on the main display.
Further, operator switches could be associated with the second
display.
Finally, each item is preferably assigned a necessary or optional
indication. As an example, speed display is indicated as necessary,
since speed must be displayed. Other information may have a lower
priority. Vehicle radio information may be generally optional.
However, if the operator is adjusting a radio parameter, then the
priority of the parameter being adjusted may move upward relative
to other less necessary information.
One main feature of this invention is prioritizing items to be
displayed. Examples will be disclosed, but there are many other
options available that are within the scope of this invention.
The method can be best understood by evaluating a change in the
information to be displayed. Assume that a first group of
information items are being displayed. Now a change will be
explained. The system receives a signal indicating a desired change
in the display. This signal could be from traffic advisory
transmitter, from an operator switch, or from vehicle sensors. As
one example, if a vehicle sensor indicates that the fuel level is
running dangerously low, the display control may receive a signal
that a low fuel warning display is necessary. Typically, a low fuel
warning may be provided with a very high priority. The system then
effects the command to display a low fuel warning. A memory list of
items to be displayed is adjusted to include the low fuel warning,
which is provided with a relatively high prioritization. The
control then recalculates the size and position for each item to be
displayed. The group and preferred location identified with each
item operate to assist in selecting the desired location for each
item.
In an initial iteration, the preferred sizes for each item are
utilized to calculate a desired display. The control then compares
the required area for the desired display with the available space.
If there is not room for all desired display, then the control
begins to re-evaluate the desired display. A first preferred step
is to minimize any display which has an alternative smaller size.
As an example, if there are several available sizes for the speed
display, the control may select a smaller size, then recalculate
the necessary size for the total desired display to determine
whether this one change provides the necessary space. This
reduction process continues until all items to be displayed fit on
the display panel, or until there are no other display items which
can be reduced in size.
If there is still not enough available size, the display items are
re-evaluated based on the need to be displayed. A display item that
is necessary is displayed. An item that is optional moves into a
next evaluation step. The next preferred step in determining which
items are to be displayed is to give priority to the most recently
actuated of the optional display items. As an example, if the
operator had recently adjusted the radio setting, but had not
recently adjusted the climate settings, then the radio settings may
be given a high priority relative to climate displays. Further, it
may be that displays of items that have been adjusted are removed
from the list of items to be displayed after a determined period of
time to provide additional space.
In this case, if the control determines that one of the display
items cannot be displayed due to lack of space then the higher
priority of the radio may cause it to remain displayed, while
climate information is not displayed.
In addition, in a preferred embodiment, a second display screen is
placed to the right of the driver, and at a location between the
driver and passenger. Items which cannot be displayed on the main
display may be moved to the second display. Once the entire
arrangement of the main display (and second display, if used) has
been calculated, the system then displays the desired image. The
control is provided with appropriate software to make the above
determinations and calculations. Although one example is set forth
in this application, it should be understood that many other
reconfigurations of the information are within the scope of this
invention. The examples set forth in this application are meant
only to indicate the power and function of the system, and not to
exhaust all of its possible embodiments.
The control may also be designed such that it can accept
aftermarket type items to be displayed. As an example, cellular
phones may be added to the vehicle, as may be other systems such as
CD players. The control may be initially designed such that it is
able to accept those signals and display appropriate displays in
response to signals from those aftermarket systems. Alternatively,
the added system may communicate with the control to "teach" the
control how the added system should be displayed. To achieve this
it may be that the added system and control both communicate with
the vehicle data bus line.
These and other features of the present invention can be best
understood from the following specification and drawings, of which
the following is a brief description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A shows a display system to be used in a vehicle.
FIG. 1B is a schematic view of an operator display system utilizing
a reconfigurable panel.
FIG. 2A shows the system of FIG. 1 in an application providing
options to an operator.
FIG. 2B shows a subsequent adjustment step from that shown in FIG.
2A.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the control process for the present
invention.
FIG. 4 shows a portion of a control table for prioritizing
information items to be displayed.
FIG. 5 shows one possible display application.
FIG. 6 shows another display application.
FIG. 7A shows yet another display situation.
FIG. 7B shows one further modification from the system shown in
FIG. 7A.
FIG. 8A shows yet another feature.
FIG. 8B shows a modification of the FIG. 8A system.
FIG. 9 shows one further feature.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1A shows a vehicle display system 20, which includes a main
display 22 to be positioned in front of the driver and steering
wheel 21. A second display 24 may be positioned to the right of the
driver, and between the driver and the passenger.
As shown in FIG. 1B, the second display 24 has a map or direction
function 25 displayed. The map function itself forms no portion of
this invention, however, the system of this invention does provide
certain display options in the type of map information that may be
displayed.
The main display 22 may include an operational grouping 26 that
would includes operational information items, such as speed 28,
fuel level 30, engine temperature 32, and the odometer 34. It is
preferred that this operational grouping be maintained near a set
location on the display panel 22, typically, near the left of the
display panel. In this way, an operator seeking to determine the
present speed knows the approximate location to look for speed dial
28.
A second grouping 36 is for entertainment information. As an
example, if the operator is listening to the radio, the radio
tuning, volume and balance may be displayed. Further, a climate
grouping 38 may also be displayed. The climate grouping may
indicate information items such as whether the rear defroster is on
or off, whether air conditioning is on or off, a desired
temperature and the presently selected air direction.
A control 40 selects the items to be displayed on panels 22 and 24.
Reconfigurable display panels (LCD, LED, EL or other such panels)
and the controls to drive those panels are widely available. The
necessary controls are within the skill of a worker of ordinary
skill in the art. The present invention is directed to certain
control features for controlling the information displayed on the
panels 22 and 24.
Control 40 is provided with several inputs. A first input 42 is
shown schematically, and includes vehicle sensor information, such
as speed, fuel level, and other information that may result in a
display function. Further, sensors may provide an indication to the
control 40 that a particular warning sign should be displayed.
Again, the particular sensors are known within the art. It is the
use of control 40 to modify how the information is displayed that
is inventive.
The operator is provided with a switching system that allows
inputting of desired information to be displayed. An operator
control switch system 44 is shown as switches 46 mounted on a
steering wheel. The U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/650,038
discloses a system allowing an operator to utilize switches to
adjust vehicle functions. Those functions are displayed on a
reconfigurable display panel as they are being adjusted. Thus, as
an example, the operator is provided with the ability to adjust
radio tuning, and the tuning is displayed as it is adjusted.
Further, some communication between these operator switches and the
systems which are being adjusted is also provided. The details of
this communication are as known in the art.
Further, an antenna 48 may receive information such as a traffic
advisory signal that is provided to users of trip direction systems
that display directions such as map 25. This traffic advisory
signal information is known, and provides indications such as the
location of a traffic jam. The trip direction function is then
reset to avoid that traffic jam.
In addition, information 48 may be provided on screen 22 giving
information to the operator as to how to adjust a display. As an
example, a help prompt may allow the operator to request
instruction on how to adjust certain vehicle parameters. The system
also may provide an instruction on how to begin to adjust or set
display information. As shown, the displayed information indicates
that to adjust, the operator should actuate the left switch 46. Of
course, any other combination of switch actuation is within the
scope of this invention.
FIG. 2A shows an example display on panel 22 after the operator has
requested adjustment. The display may bring up a menu which
provides the available options to the operator. The menu may allow
the operator to select adjustment of climate or entertainment
feature, request map display, or set preferences for the display.
Some indication from the operator would be provided through the
switches to select a particular one of the available options. As an
example, an arrow icon 51 is shown aligned with set preference. In
one control logic, one of the two switches 46 moves icon 51, while
the other is an enter button. Thus, the operator moves the icon 51
to the desired menu item and then actuates the enter switch. These
details are only one example, and other logics are within the scope
of this invention.
FIG. 2B shows a display after the operator has selected a "set
preference". The display preferences available to the operator are
displayed. Of course, the original menu of FIG. 2A could be more
detailed and ask the operator to identify which system the
preferences are to be set for. In the display shown in FIG. 2B, the
operator is provided with five potential preferences to be set. The
operator is provided as an example with the ability to select a
dial or numeric speed display. A similar preference may be provided
for the fuel level. Thus, an operator may desire to have the speed
displayed as a dial, such as shown in FIG. 1. The operator is then
able to set that preference. Further, the operator may be provided
with preferences relative to the map display. As an example, it may
be that the operator is provided with a map preference 1 allowing
the operator to select either a map, or simple language directions.
The operator may also be provided with a map preference as to the
size of the map relative to the display 22. The operator may be
able to request that the map extend over the majority of the
display 22, or that it only be provided in a particular area on the
display 22. Further, the operator may be provided with the
preference of selecting the location of the map between displays 22
and 24. As an example, as shown in FIG. 1, map 25 is displayed on
panel 24. A preference choice may allow the operator to request
that display location.
The particular number of preferences and the particular type of
preferences are by no means exhausted with the above description.
The above list is meant as an example of the type of preferences
that may be provided in the inventive system.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for the operation of the control 40. The
display is initially displaying a set of information items. Now, an
input signal is received from antenna 48, from the vehicle control
sensors 42, or from the operator switch system 44. The input signal
goes to the control 40, and control 40 begins to effect the command
from the input signal. The control 40 may also be connected into
the vehicle systems to effect adjustment on those systems. Again,
the details of this control are as known in the art. A first
preferred step is to adjust a listing of items to be displayed to
include the information desired by the input signal. The control
then recalculates a desired display location and display area. The
control then takes the desired display area and location and
compares it to the available area. If there is sufficient space,
then control 40 displays the new display. If the available area is
smaller than the desired area, then the control must begin to
reconfigure its desired display. Several steps may be included in
this adjustment.
As one preferred first step, when desired display area is too
great, the control first goes through a listing of information
items which have different available display sizes. The control
will then reduce those items to a smaller size, and recalculate the
total desired display size with the reduction. The control may
review the list of available items that may be reduced and select
ones to optimize the provision of necessary space. As an example,
if the reduction of one item would provide ten additional space
units, but only three additional space units are necessary, the
control may optimize the reduction by selecting to reduce a second
item, the reduction of which would provide four additional space
items.
If by reducing items, the available area equals or exceeds the
desired area, then the system then moves to the display step.
Examples of smaller sizes may be moving a dial speedometer to a
smaller numeric display. The control continues to move to smaller
sizes and recalculates the desired area until either all desired
display items are accommodated, or there are no more display items
having a smaller available size. If there is still insufficient
available area, the system begins to sort the items to be
displayed. The first priority is to look at the need of the item to
be displayed. This may be a true/false field, or could be a numeric
setting for the particular display item. As an example, it may be
that the speedometer information must be displayed. Other
information may be identified as optional. Alternatively, the
information which is more "optional" could be provided with a
numeric prioritization such that it can be evaluated relative to
other optional information.
Other options considered in evaluating the prioritization of the
items to be displayed are how recently the item was requested by
the operator. As an example, if the operator has recently changed a
radio setting, but has not as recently changed a climate setting,
then radio setting may be given priority over climate setting in
evaluating which items are displayed, and which items are not
displayed. Further, the control may determine that some optional
information is not to be displayed on the main display 22, but is
to be moved to the second display 24. Thus, should the system
determine that a particular application does not allow room for
climate information on the main display 22, the climate information
may be moved to the second display 24.
Other desired features in determining the desired location of the
information include grouping of information. As an example, it is
desirable to maintain all operational information in a particular
location. Further, it is desired to maintain the radio and climate
information in groups. Further, other items to be displayed are
preferably grouped into logically associated groups. As discussed
above, it may be desirable to have the groupings in known locations
and thus they may also have desired locations.
An example table or list is shown in FIG. 4 for prioritizing four
pieces of information to be displayed. First, the speed information
is shown as including a operator preference for a dial display. The
size associated with the speed is shown as having two sizes, with a
first larger size associated with a dial display indicated by the
numeral 8 and a small display size associated with a numeric
display indicated by numeral 4. It should be understood that the
numbers assigned to the size do not necessarily correspond directly
to any particular unit. They are merely placed here for providing
an understanding of the operational steps. The speed is also
provided with a grouping, and is associated with other items to be
displayed in its grouping. The grouping here is shown as
operational information. There is also information on whether speed
is a necessary display. Speed is necessary. The table further
includes a desired location for the speed, shown here as far left
on the display panel.
Two information items from the entertainment grouping are also
shown in the table. Radio tuning and radio volume are shown as not
being provided with any preference for the operator, or any
particular desired location. Of course, the operator may be
provided in some systems with preference on these items and there
may also be a desired location. However, not all items necessarily
are provided with operator preferences, or with desired locations.
The minimum size is shown as 4 and the grouping is shown as
entertainment. The necessity of the two radio parameters is not
equal to that of the speed display. Speed display must always be
displayed, where as radio information is optional. Thus, in some
embodiments of this invention, the necessity may simply be a "no".
However, in the system shown in FIG. 4, there is also a
prioritization within the optional display items. Radio tuning is
shown as a 1, wherein radio volume is shown as a 2. The higher
prioritization of the tuning may be provided if the tuning had been
recently adjusted by the operator. That is, if the operator has
recently adjusted the tuning, it may be provided with a higher
prioritization than volume.
Further, table 4 shows a low fuel warning. The system may be
provided with information from its sensors that the vehicle is low
on fuel, as an example. The low fuel warning is shown as not having
any operator preference in its display, and having minimum size of
8. The grouping is operational, and the display is shown as
necessary. If the low fuel warning is being sent to the control, it
may be that the designer wishes that low fuel warning to always be
displayed. Of course, if there is no low fuel warning signal sent
to the control, then there would be no low fuel item in the display
table, and it would not be displayed. The item is added to the
table when the signal is received. The low fuel warning is shown as
having a desired location.
FIGS. 5-8 will display some options. These are not shown as being
exhaustive of the type of situations that may be encountered, but
rather to show certain examples from which the overall display
system can be better appreciated.
As shown in FIG. 5, a display panel 22 is provided with operational
information 28, 30 and 32 to the left, and as dials. The dials are
relatively large when compared to the digital or numeric
information that could alternatively be provided.
A low fuel warning 62 is shown in the approximate center of the
display. The control 40 has determined that the warning 62 must be
displayed, and that information 28, 30 and 32 should also be
displayed.
In the situation shown in FIG. 5, the operator has indicated a
desire to adjust the tuning on the radio. This may be provided by
selectively adjusting the switches 46, and through a menu such as
shown in FIG. 2A. Details of one potential system for achieving
adjustment are disclosed in co-pending patent application Ser. No.
08/650,038. The present invention relates to the display criteria
utilized when one is adjusting information.
When one desires to adjust the tuning, a display such as shown in
FIG. 5 is provided. The display shows the present radio station,
and shows icons indicating that the station may be adjusted
upwardly or downwardly. When the operator has requested that the
tuning be adjusted, tuning would have a relatively high priority
compared to other radio information. Thus, although little
available space is left on the panel 22, due to the low warning
light, radio tuning information is displayed to allow the operator
to adjust that information. As shown, the control has gone through
its logic and determined that radio volume, and climate information
do not have high enough priority such that they should be displayed
on the panel 22. Those two information items are displayed on the
second panel 24.
As discussed above, as one potential step before moving the
information to the second panel 24, the control 40 may first reduce
the size of the displays 28, 30 and 32. However, in the logic shown
in FIG. 5, the information shown on panel 24 does not have high
enough priority that the control 40 would reduce the size of the
information 28, 30 and 32 in the present situation. The exact
details on these types of selections can take several
permeatations, and the present invention is not limited to any one
particular choice.
FIG. 6, shows the display of map information 66 on the display
panel 22. As shown, the map information 66 is relatively large, and
combined with the dials 28, 30 and 32, this information has caused
the entertainment and climate information to be moved to the second
panel 24. Map information 26 includes a location 68, directions 70,
and a destination 72. The direction 70 may be in the form of
arrows, or may be in the form of written information. As set forth
above, in some maps systems, the operator may be provided with the
option of selecting whether word directions would substitute for
the map. Further, the operator is provided with the preference of
selecting a large map which would cover more of the screen 22, or a
smaller map such as shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 7A now shows one of the types of selection that control 40 may
utilize in a particular situation. As shown, the panel 22 continues
to display the map information 66. However, the control 40 has now
received information that the fuel level is dangerously low and a
low fuel warning 62 is to be displayed. Further, it may be that the
map system is provided with the sophistication such that it can
show directions to the nearest gas stations as a sub-map. It may be
desirable to display this fuel information when the low fuel
warning signal 62 is actuated. Between FIGS. 6 and 7A, the control
has determined that the displayed information 62, 66 and 74 are all
of sufficient priority that they should be displayed. Thus, the
dial 28, 30 and 32 have all been reduced to numeric or digital
information. This provides additional display space on the panel
22. Again, the control has gone through the process of initially
preferring that the dial be utilized. However, in calculating the
available space, the control has gone through several iterations
and has moved the displays 70, 72 and 74 to their smaller digital
or numeric information to provide additional space for the new
items 62 and 74 that the control has determined should be
displayed.
FIG. 7B shows one further space saving option. As shown in FIG. 7B,
the numeric speed information 75 may also be moved to a smaller
display size. The larger display size is shown in dotted line,
while a smaller display size is shown in solid line. While this may
provide additional space in certain applications, in all
applications there should be a minimum size for the most important
information to be displayed, such as speed. It would typically not
be desirable to reduce the speed information such that it is
difficult for the operator to easily see the information.
FIG. 8A shows one further feature of the display logic. As shown in
FIG. 8, display panel 22 is now displaying map information 80. The
operator has selected the map information to be large and extend
over the majority of this screen 22. The map information shows the
vehicle location 82, directions 83, and a destination 84. The
dotted line 85 is not displayed, and could be described as the
envelope of the information to be displayed between the location
and the destination. The other items which are to be displayed,
here shown as speed 86, and fuel 88 are preferably placed outside
of the envelope 85. Thus, the designer may program control 40 to
provide location preference for items which are to be displayed in
combination with the map 80 such that the location of the envelope
85 is utilized. Most preferably, the information 86 and 88 is
displayed outwardly of the envelope. While the situation shown in
FIG. 8A allows this to be achieved easily, in certain applications
the destination may be further to the left. In such a situation,
the control 40 may move the location of the displayed items 86 and
88 to another location. As an example, in FIG. 8B, the destination
is shown in the upper left hand corner such that the routing
envelope 90 would include the area where the items 86 and 88 are
shown in the display of FIG. 8A. In this situation, the speed may
be moved downwardly such that it is outside of the envelope 90. Of
course, the designer of the control algorithm for control 40 would
balance the desire to not have information displayed within
envelope 90 against the desire to have important information in a
set location.
In the FIG. 9 embodiment, the added item is CD player 102. The CD
player 102 communicates to a data bus line 104. The control 40
communicates with the CD player 102 through the data bus line 104.
Thus, when the operator adds the CD player 102, the control 40
begins to drive display items on display panel 22 from the CD
player 102. In addition, the operator switches may be used to
control the CD player 102, as with the above-discussed embodiments.
The control 40 may interact with the newly added CD player in one
of two ways. First, the control 40 could be designed to anticipate
the possibility of a CD player being added to the system. Thus, the
control 40 could include appropriate circuitry to recognize and
accept the required signals for the CD player 102. Preferably,
however, the CD player 102 is structured such that it teaches the
control 40 its necessary displays and its operating parameters
through the bus line 104. The controls and necessary steps to
achieve this goal are within the skill of a worker in the art. It
is the application which is inventive.
This feature is particularly beneficial given the inventive
prioritization. With the addition of further add-on systems, the
necessary displays become difficult to predict to the initial OEM
designer of the display panel. Thus, by allowing the control to be
modified with additional add-on items, the panel can keep
up-to-date with the vehicle. Moreover, as additional items are
added, the prioritization which is the main feature of this
invention becomes even more important.
In one preferred application, the control 40 is software based to
achieve the above-listed control functions. Of course, it may be
possible in some applications to utilize other types controls such
as circuit chips, etc., to achieve the control logic.
Preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed,
however, a worker of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that
certain modifications would come within the scope of this
invention. For that reason the following claims should be studied
to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
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